In May 2022 the Fredville City Council adopted an updated ordinance on short-term residential rentals (the short-term rental article of the city code, PDF). Under it, anyone who owns or operates a short-term rental must hold a city permit and send hotel occupancy tax payments straight to the city.
Helpful documents:
- Checklist for the property inspection (PDF)
- Sample floor plan (PDF)
- Sample parking plan, version 1 (PDF)
- Sample parking plan, version 2 (PDF)
Do I need a permit?
Yes, if you rent out a home for short stays. Every short-term rental owner or operator must get a permit each year and pay the city's hotel occupancy tax monthly. That includes any residential property advertised on social media, booking sites or similar online platforms.
A short-term rental is any residence, or part of one, rented as lodging for anywhere from 1 to 30 days in a row. An operator who does not own the property must have written permission from the owner to use it this way.
Note: If the property is in a homeowners association, confirm that the HOA allows short-term rentals before you apply, because the application fee cannot be refunded.
Step 1. Review the requirements
Gather these items before you start the online application:
- Floor plan or map. Show the home's total square footage, the bedrooms and other living areas, the fire extinguisher and first aid kit, and the evacuation routes. Use the sample floor plan (PDF) as a guide.
- Parking plan. Mark where guests will park. The ordinance limits short-term rental parking to the property itself; guests, occupants and visitors may not park on the street or block the sidewalk. Two sample parking plans (PDF) are available.
- Insurance. Provide proof of host protection or liability coverage suited to a short-term rental business, with limits of up to $1 million for each occurrence. The city accepts the guest coverage offered by Airbnb or VRBO only when those are the only booking platforms you use; if you list anywhere else, you need a separate policy that meets the $1 million per occurrence minimum.
- Owner's authorization. If a manager or operator runs the rental, include the owner's written statement giving permission to rent out the property on a short-term basis. A template (PDF) is available.
- Safety equipment. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as the adopted codes require, and keep a working Type A fire extinguisher (at least one) on site, with the yearly inspection required by the city's current fire code.
Step 2. Apply online
Applications are accepted only through the City of Fredville's online short-term rental permit portal. Have the following ready to enter or upload:
- A site plan showing the parking spaces guests will use
- A dimensioned floor plan (PDF example available) showing bedrooms, other living areas and emergency evacuation routes
- Proof of insurance (host protection or liability) covering up to $1 million per occurrence
- A photo of your driver's license
- The property's physical address
- The parcel ID, which you can look up with the city's interactive maps
- Contact details for the owner (name, address, email and phone); for a company, the name, address and email of the responsible party; or the operator's name, address, email and phone. In every case, also list the name, address, email and 24-hour phone number of a local contact person.
- The rental income the property earned during the previous calendar year
After you submit, you will get a confirmation email. A non-refundable fee of $450 is due with the application.
For help with the application or questions about approval, the Code Compliance Division can be reached at (555) 010-2786.
Step 3. Inspection
Once staff review your application, they will schedule an on-site inspection to confirm that the rental meets minimum health and safety standards for use and occupancy. The property should be ready for guests and should match the floor plan you submitted.
Step 4. Permit issued
Your permit takes effect once the application is approved and the property passes inspection. If any information on your application changes, report it to the city within 10 days, and keep it up to date as further changes happen.
- Post the permit. Display a copy just inside the front entrance where guests will see it, and show the permit on every advertisement for the rental. Also post the information brochure listing the local or emergency contact's name and phone number and the maximum occupancy.
- Notify neighbors. Within 10 days of receiving the permit, the owner or operator must notify every neighbor whose property lies within 200 feet of the rental. The notice must include the permit number, the owner's or operator's identity, the local or emergency contact's name and phone number, and the city web page with short-term rental information. City staff can supply the list of addresses within 200 feet, and a neighbor notice template (PDF) is available.
- Follow the occupancy limit. A short-term rental may house one person for every 200 square feet, up to a maximum of 12 people for homes of 2,400 square feet or more. Smaller homes are held to the same ratio of one person per 200 square feet.
Hotel occupancy taxes
Owners and operators pay hotel occupancy tax straight to the City of Fredville. The city has no agreement with any booking platform to collect this tax on its behalf, and it is separate from the state hotel occupancy tax and from any tax a booking site collects. Fredville's rate is 6% of taxable receipts.
Payment is due on or before the 30th of the month following the month in which you received the rental income. For example, tax on income from March stays is due by April 30. The short-term rental hotel tax FAQ covers payment options, late fees and what counts as taxable receipts.
Permit renewal
Permits must be renewed every year. Each permit runs for one year and expires on the final day of its anniversary month; for example, a permit issued June 10, 2026, expires June 30, 2027. To renew, the owner or operator must submit a complete renewal application and pay the application fee at least 30 days before the expiration date.
Fees
- Short-term rental permit: $450, non-refundable, paid with the online application
- Hotel occupancy tax: owed monthly on taxable receipts
See the short-term rentals overview for more information.
At a glance
- Fee
- $450, non-refundable
- Who needs it
- An owner renting a home or room for stays of 30 days or less
- How to apply
- This one is not in the online permit portal; use the application below.
- Application
- Sample application for this permit
- Turnaround
- About 10 business days
- Questions
- (555) 010-2786, [email protected]
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.